Drapery pleat-marker mechanism



Sept. 30, 1958 R.v F. RIPP ETAL 2,853,793

DRAPERY PLEAT-MARKER MECHANISM Filed Nov. 18, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 'Arme/ver Sv wm.. ,90% hm mw uw m mw mm w mpv. W7 am WFM mm Z N wmf@ N @KW o k( Y l, WN QM NN .MN k dwmlww/ @www/ND wm/\.SN www .mw www@ u H N u.. l u, wu Il mf ww E@ Nm uw wm Sa mm wm Sk um N mw@ lllallLE 2 Sheets-Shea; 2

Sept. 30, 1958 R..|. Rl-PP ,g1-AL DRAPERY PLEAT-MARKERMECHANISM n' Filed Nov. 18, 1957 rl- .wwwml llilalugll M H mi@ N m@ m V2M r NFH. T 6 A D W2/4 wm j@ RWM United` 'States O DRAPERY PLEA'r-MARKER MECHANISM Richard F. Ripp, Los Angeles, `and Orval L. Gilmore,

Canoga Park, Calif.

This invention relates to mechanism for marking the locating of pleats on draperies orfo'ther Vsuch widths of fabricA materials. An object of the present invention is to provide automatic means that locates a plurality Iof members in such spaced relation as to be in position to mark the location of pleats on a Width of draperymaterial. Y

Another object of the invention is to provide mechanism of the character above indicated in which all of the `members are moved simultaneously to a vuniformly spaced relationship to locate the marking pleats, as herein desired.

A corollary object of the invention is to provide mechanism for forming pleats in a drapery all at the same time.

The invention also has for its objects to .provide such means that are positive in operation, yconvenient in use, easily installed in a working positionand easily disconnected therefrom, economical of manufacture, relatively simple, and of general superiority and serviceability.

The invention also comprises'novel details of construction and novel combinations and arrangements of parts,

which will more fully appear-in the course of the foly lowing description. However, the drawings merely show and the following` description merely describes, one embodiment of the present invention, which is given by way of illustration of example only.

In the drawings, like reference characters designate similar parts in the several views.

Fig. 1 is a broken plan view showing drapery pleat marking mechanism according to the present invention,

the same being shown in extended position preparatoryv to marking the location of pleats on a width of drapery. Fig. 2 is an enlarged vertical sectional view, as taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. l, the mechanism beingshown in somewhat contracted position.

`Fig. 3 is a broken plan view of the mechanism shown in Figs. 1 and 2 partly in section, the same being fully contracted.

Figs. 4, 5, 6, and 7 are respectively cross-sectional 4 4,s s 6 6, ,and

viewstaken onthe respective lines 7-7 of Fig. 3.

The present drapery pleat-marker mechanism comprises, generally, a base 10, a pair of parallel shafts 11 disposed transversely acrossl said base, means 12 to 'drive said shafts in unison in one direction or the -other as desired, a set of blocks or units 13 strung on said shafts 11, means 14 carried by each block and driven by one of the shafts to move the blocks longitudinally along the shafts to vary the spacing in uniform increments between the blocks, and means 15 on the blocks to mark the location of pleats to be formed in a width of drapery material D.

The base may comprise a table top 2l) in which is preferably provided an elongated cavity 21 to house the major portion of the present mechanism. The table top 2t? may be of a size to accommodate a width of 2,853,793 Patented Sept. 30,A 1958 drapery D so that an operator may manipulate the latter with respectrto the mechanism of the present invention.

`The pair of shafts 11` is disposed longitudinally in the cavity 21. Thus.said shafts ordinarily, would be disposed transversely to an operator manipulating the material of drapery D. The pair of shafts 11 comprises two similar shafts 22 and 23, each of which is provided with a keyway 24 extending for theentire length thereof.

The shaft-guiding means 12 is `shown as a pair of similar reversing motors 25 that are preferably geared down so that their output speed is relatively low, im-

parting such low speed to the shafts 22 and 23. It is evident that but one drive motor may be used, providing the take-off has a separate kconnection for each of said shafts. The motors 25 or they motor, if one is used, may be mounted on a bracket 26 aflixed to the end of the tabletop 20. l

The set ofY blocks 13 is shown in full detail in Figs. 4-7, ,wherein it will be seen that, while the blocks are generally similar, they are individually slightly dilerent, as willbe seen from the following description thereof.

Eachy block is provided with a bifurcation 27 that is defined between bearing arms 2S, a through bore 29 that Vpasses through the arms 28, and a preferably larger bore 30 that passesl through each said block beyond the bifurcation27. The bore 30 is provided with a bushing y vIn the present mechanism, set of blocks 13 comy prises four dilerenty blocks withrespect to the sizes `of the b ores therein, Fig. 4 showing a block 32, Fig` 5 a block 33, Fig. 6 a block'34, and Fig. 7 a block 35. In Figs. l, 2, and 3 it will be seen that said blocks are arranged in side-by-side relationship from the drive end towardthe opposite end of the shafts. 22 and 23, and that where more than four blocks are used in the mechanism the same are repeated. lThus, the rst and fifth blocks in Fig. 5 are blocks 32, the second and sixth blocks are blocks 33, etc.

Each block 32 is provided with a small bore 36 vertically aligned with the .bore 29 and with a larger clearance bore 37 also aligned with the bore 29. Thus, in Fig, 4, the bores 29, 36, and 37 pass through the arms 28. and open on the bifurcation 27. The block 32 is further provided with a clearance -bore 37 and with a a clerance'b'ore 37 arey aligned with the bore 30 in 4block 33.

Block 34 has a clearance bore 37 and a bearing bore 36 aligned with its bore 29, and the bore 30 has a tapped hole 40 and a clearance bore 37 aligned therewith.

Block has its bores 36 and 37 on one side and tapped hole and clearance bore 41 on the `other side, similar but upside-down with respect to the bores in block 33. It will be noted that the same upside-down relationship exists between the bores in blocks 32 and 34.

The means 14 comprises a gear 42 in the -bifurcation 27 of each of the blocks 32 and 34, a gear 43 in each of the bifurcations 27 of the blocks 33 and 35, keys 44 rotationally and slidingly connecting the gears 42 to the freeto turn Within the bores I?, shaft 23 and the gearsr 43 to the shaft 22, a pinion gear 45 in mesh with each of the gears 42, a pinion gear 46A in mesh with each of the gears 43, a threaded stem or stud 47 ailxed to each pinion gear 45 and extending through the tappedA hole 40 of 'the next Vadjacentblock and; through,v the clearance holes37 in theother ytwo blocks` of theA set of" four, and a similar lstud* 48--con nected to each` ofthe pinion lgears 46 and extending through the tappedhole`40 ofY theedjacent blockand through theV 'clearance' holes 37 of theother two blocks ofA suchy a set of blocks.

It will 'be seen from Figs; 4-7v that the pinion gears 45 and 46 are arranged two above and twobelow. the shafts 22 and 23; and thatI ,the studs connectedl to` said-gears extend in, full clearance kthrough the-next three` blocks; in eachv case.'V lj The'ii'rstmbloclkr 32 adjacent'the bracket; 26 maybe aixed'tosaid bracket so -asv' to be immovable. All' ofthe other blocks move'r toward the right relatively'awayfrom each other the same-amount under thev driven control of the means 14. Thus,` as seen in Fig. 2,'from the Yclosed position of Fig. 3, the blocks separate; a like amount so that their spacing, relatively, isthe same. `As the driveV of the means 14 continues, theblocks aremovedV farther apart but the spacingeremains uniform between. the adja cent blocks.r Consequently, it will be clear thatthe means 14 may be employed to spread'the blocks'so that the increment of spacebetween adjacent blocks is as desired. Conversely, from a spread condition, it is understood that the blocks will contractgenerally in the same manner,

upon reversal ofthe vdrive means 12.

The means may comprise indicators or markers 50 or any means that may be usedV to show on a drapery or markthe same Where the pleats thereof are to be located when the-same is to be pleated, as can be understood. Fig. l shows how a width of drapery may be marked forrnine pleats to be provided therein, it being clear that a closer spacing of blocks may be used for narrower widths of drapery. Thev indicators'50 representclamps or'grippers also. Thus, whether forV showing the location of seams on a width of drapery orefor actually gripping the material thereof and movingl the same into pleated condition when the mechanism is movedjfrom an extended to a contracted position, the foregoing means is fully automatic and comprises mechanism that realizes the objects of the present invention.

VVWhile the foregoing speciiication'illustrates and de# scribes what we now contemplate to be the best mode of carryingout our invention, the ,construction is, ofcourse, subject'tormodification without departing from the spirit' and scope of-ourinvention. Therefore, We do not desire to restrict the invention to the particular form of construction illustrated and described, but'desire to cover all modifications that lmay fall within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. Drapery pleat marker mechanism comprising a pair of parallel shafts, means to rotate said shafts in both directions, selectively, a set of blocks strung on' said shafts to move therealong in a direction according to the direction of rotation ofthe shafts, a threaded stud car ried by each block, a threaded seat in each adjacent block receptive of said stud, a driving connection between said shafts and said studs to rotate the latter and, according to the direction of rotation thereof, to move the blocks along the shafts, accordingly, and means on each block to mark the location of a pleat on a drapery placed over the set of blocks when extended along the shafts.

2. Drapery pleat marker mechanism, according to claim l, each block having a bifurcation and the mentioned driving connections between the shafts and. studs beingldisposed in said bifurcations.

3. Drapery pleat marker mechanism, according to claim 1, each block having a bifurcation, andthe mentioned driving connections between the, shafts and studs being disposed in said bifurcations, and comprising a gear slidingly mounted on and rotational with the shaft and a meshing gear ajxed to the stud.

4. VDrapery pleat marker mechanism, according to claim l, in which each block4 is provided with Vat least one clearance hole to receive the stud of an adjacent block when the blocks are in at least partly contracted position. p

y5. In drapery pleat marker mechanism, a set of markermounting blocks, a pairrof shafts mounting said blocks in longitudinal array, `each block being provided with a rotational, threaded"stud1and` with a threaded seat to receive the stud ofan adjacent block, reversing means to rotate the "shafts, andv a driving connection between said: shafts and the mentioned studs.

6. In drapery pleat marker mechanism according to claim 5, eachY block having'a bifurcation and the rnen-v tioned driving connections being disposed in said bifurcations. f

' 7. In drapery pleat marker mechanism according to claim 5, eachblock having clearance holes to receive the s tuds'of adjacent blocksl when the latter are in at least partly contracted position.

8. In drapery pleat marker mechanism'according to claimV 57,; said set of blocks including at least fourblocks inwhich the threaded studs are each dilerently oriented' with respect to the shafts that mount the blocks.

9."In a drapery pleat marker mechanism a set of' bifurcated blocks, the bifurcations ofV successive blocks'being alternately oppositely directed, a pair of shafts 'ex-` tending through all of the blocks, one shaft through the bifurcations on one side andthe other shaft through bifurcations on the opposite side', a threadedV connection carried by, each block and connected'to an adjacent block,

and means residing in said-bifurcations'to drivingly con,-v

nect the shafts to the mentioned threaded connections.

l0. In a drapery pleatmarker mechanism a set ofl bi furcated blocks, the bifurcations of successive blocks being alternately oppositely directed, a pair of shaftsv extending through all of the blocks, one shaft through the bifurcations on one side and the other shaft through bifurcations on the opposite side, a threaded connection carried by each block and connected to an adjacent block, and a pair of meshing gears in each bifurcation, one on the shaftv extending therethrough and the other affixed to the drivingv connection.

No references cited. 

